Craig Markus, Chief Creative Officer at Proof Advertising, Has Died at Age 57
New York City resident and advertising executive Craig Markus has passed away at the age of 57, according to a social media post made on Tuesday, August 8th, 2023. The post stated "Craig Markus my dear friend, you are now closer to your beloved stars. I’ll never forget your kindness and your infectious love of space. Will never forget your call from Cape Cañaveral to share that experience. And what a devoted Dad you were. You’ll be so missed. RIP."
Career Spanned Several Major Ad Agencies
According to a statement released by Proof Advertising, where Markus worked as Chief Creative Officer, he had been hospitalized for several weeks battling complications from Guillain-Barré syndrome before his death. Markus had just begun acute physical therapy at Mount Sinai Hospital and was hopeful he would return to work within weeks when he developed further complications and passed away.
Over his long career, Markus worked at several major advertising agencies including Ogilvy, Deutsch, DMB&B, Cramer-Krasselt, and McCann-Erickson, where he spent the majority of his career and rose to the role of Creative Director. While at McCann, Markus led high-profile campaigns such as the "Army Strong" campaign for the U.S. Army.
Joined Proof Advertising 3 Years Ago
According to Proof Advertising CEO Bryan Christian, it took 3 years to convince Markus to join Proof Advertising due to his commitment to raising his children in New York. Once the agency moved to a virtual workplace model during the pandemic, Markus was able to join the team remotely while staying in New York.
Christian said Markus brought passion and joy to work every day and was a great mentor to both his team members and colleagues at Proof Advertising. One of Markus' last acts before falling ill was promoting Claire Jordan to Executive Creative Director at the agency.
Educated at UCLA and ArtCenter College of Design
A native New Yorker, Markus graduated with a BA in Communications from UCLA in 1986. He later obtained a second bachelor's degree in Advertising Design from ArtCenter College of Design in 1991. In 2009, he attended the Berlin School of Creative Leadership.
Earlier in his career, Markus worked as a studio artist doing typesetting and marker sketches by hand. He began his advertising career in 1986 at the agency Abert, Newhoff, and Burr before moving to larger firms.
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Taught at Fashion Institute of Technology
In addition to his ad agency roles, Markus found time to teach advertising and design courses at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. He thoroughly enjoyed mentoring up-and-coming creative talent.
Focused on His Family
According to his colleagues, Markus was devoted to his two sons above all else. Although he was passionate about advertising and spent decades building an impressive resume, his family in New York always came first. Markus turned down job offers requiring relocation several times, unwilling to disrupt his sons' lives.
Remembered as a Kind, Passionate Spirit
Friends, colleagues, and students of Markus have taken to social media to remember him as a kind, infectious spirit who loved sharing his passion for advertising and space exploration. Markus made calls to friends from Cape Canaveral during space launches just to share the excitement.
His mentorship, positive attitude, and dedication to his craft left a lasting impact on the many ad agencies and students he worked with over his 35+ year career. Markus approached advertising with joy and inspiration and will be greatly missed.
Conclusion
The untimely passing of Craig Markus at age 57 came as a shock to the advertising community, where he was known as a passionate creative leader and beloved mentor. From his early days sketching concepts by hand to leading high-profile campaigns for major brands, Markus made his mark across the industry while remaining devoted to his family. He brought infectious joy and kindness to his work and teaching right up until falling ill. Markus will be remembered for inspiring generations of creatives to approach advertising with passion, dedication, and humor.
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